GoSL donates USD 25 000 to US hurricane victims

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 September 2005, 06:47 GMT]
United States Charge’ d’Affaires to Sri Lanka and the Maldives James F. Entwistle expressed gratitude to Sri Lanka's President Kumaratunga and the Government of Sri Lanka Friday for their condolences and pledge of assistance to hurricane victims in the U.S. The Government of Sri Lanka will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross for immediate assistance to those affected by the hurricane, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Bernard Goonetillike will call upon Sri Lankan physicians in the U.S. to volunteer their services to the injured and ill, according to a press release from the Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo.

Full text of the press release issued by the US Embassy follows:

UNITED STATES EMBASSY EXPRESSES THANKS FOR SRI LANKA’S ASSISTANCE TO HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS

Colombo, September 2, 2005: United States Charge’ d’Affaires to Sri Lanka and the Maldives James F. Entwistle expressed gratitude to President Kumaratunga and the Government of Sri Lanka today for their generous and heartfelt condolences and pledge of assistance to hurricane victims in the U.S. The Government of Sri Lanka will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross for immediate assistance to those affected by the hurricane, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Bernard Goonetillike will call upon Sri Lankan physicians in the U.S. to volunteer their services to the injured and ill.

Mr. Entwistle stated, “We greatly appreciate Sri Lanka’s concern and assistance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Sri Lanka’s commitment to help relieve the suffering of our citizens illustrates the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries.”

Sri Lankans wishing to contribute to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts directly should consider sending donations to the American Red Cross Relief Fund. Please visit the Red Cross website at http://www.redcross.org/ or go directly to the donation page at http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate2/.